About Sarah
Sarah is a French native, born and raised in the South of France. She came to the United States in her mid twenties to study in a Psychology graduate program. In an attempt for a more integrated mind/body approach she ended up switching to Chinese Medicine and graduated from ACCHS in Oakland 2001. At that time she also got married and started her own family.
In 2005, while raising her two daughters she started her private practice in Mill Valley.
In 2007 after a number of years of trying different martial arts styles and Qigong teachers she found her teacher, Liping Zhu and has studied since with her in the lineage of the Heavenly Essence School. She became certified to teach Qigong in 2015 and has been teaching occasional workshops since as well as using this training in her acupuncture practice. Qigong involves both movement at the lower levels but also meditation practices and incorporates a strong focus on breathing, visualization and developing a strong Mind and power of intention, this in turn permeates how we move in, and exchange energy with the world.
With her background in Psychology and a long standing personal practice of Inner work and Self cultivation, she approaches Chinese Medicine with a very strong Mind/Body integrative approach. Believing sound spirituality is all the more consolidated by sound and balanced psychology and emotional wellbeing. Most important to her is to strive to offer compassionate and informed care while holding a loving and safe place for patients to return to their own innate balance.
Sarah likes to work with patients through a combined informed and intuitive approach. Allowing for time to truly listen to each patient, as well as observe and take in the unique presentation of signs and symptoms at hand towards a treatment strategy and plan unique to each patient.
Various modalities will be incorporated in her treatments, that might combine the Eastern Classical/ Daoist wealth of knowledge and wisdom with some Functional medicine understandings. All aspects of a patient’s life might be taken into account in the creation of treatment plans. From playing and bringing awareness to diet or exploring helpful exercises and movements. To prioritizing sleep and developing better stress management routines. for patients wanting to create a bigger changes addressing some possible detrimental narratives and emotional patterns that might be consolidating some of the imbalances will be very important.
Overall, tapping into joy, playfulness, curiosity and engagement are key to getting better and creating real shifts.
In her practice Sarah sees patients with issues ranging from pain management, to stress/emotional, sleep, digestive, hormonal, immune and autoimmune or fertility related. The focus is always on the patient, their particular symptom presentation, patterns and what is needed for them at that moment.
Through attentive follow up, education and care she hopes to help redirect her patients towards more balance, nourishment and health and possibly lasting helpful Self Care habits.
Sarah is an avid student and loves to always learn about all things health related (mental and physical). Aside from her Spiritual involvement, she has studied over the years with many teachers from around the world, both in the Classics of Acupuncture and Herbal prescription as well as more current TCM sources and functional medicine topics integrating Eastern and Western perspectives.
Outside of her work, self cultivation and study life. Sarah loves to swim, hike and dance. Be around plants, water and in nature. Be a mother, daughter and friend. Play with her different creative pursuits, listen to music, cook and eat tasty foods while enjoying good company.